January 19, 2011

Cook County Board honors 'hero' who confronted Honeybee Killer

Cook County commissioners today honored the Orland Park man credited with cutting short the violent crime spree of the so-called Honeybee Killer.

Praise was lavished on Jason McDaniel for his actions in the Dec. 11 self-defense shooting of Gary Amaya, whose handgun was traced back to October shootings in the south suburbs and Indiana. Those shootings left one person dead and two others wounded. In Indiana, the gunman apparently asked about honeybees, leading to the nickname.

In December, McDaniel walked in on a robbery at an Orland Park tanning salon. He tried to reason with Amaya, but that failed, and he took the gun from Amaya’s control, McDaniel later said. A struggle ensued, and Amaya was fatally shot, he said.

Today, Preckwinkle said McDaniel prevented "the Honeybee Killer from doing further harm."

"Thank God that Jason McDaniel came in and entered the store," said Commissioner Elizabeth Gorman, R-Orland Park. "If this particular killer was out on the street now, he'd still be out there killing. . . . We're much better off because of Mr. McDaniel's heroic actions."

"I believe you were supposed to be there that day," said Commissioner Deborah Sims, D-Chicago. "I don't think it was by accident. I think you were sent there to save those ladies and to accomplish what you did. . . . Your wife and your baby can be really, really proud of you, and when your daughter grows up, she's probably going to say, 'my Daddy's Superman.' You did a brave thing."

Commissioner John Daley, D-Chicago, said McDaniel "truly" is a hero. "You saved peoples' lives, and you made a difference. Thank you."

McDaniel expressed no second thoughts.

"I'd do it again in a second, if I had the opportunity, just like these gentlemen," McDaniel said, referring to two Cook County sheriff's deputies honored earlier in the meeting for rescuing residents from a burning building on the South Side.

McDaniel choked up at one point, prompting Preckwinkle to pat him on the back. "You guys talk about my child, I get a little worked up," he said, taking a moment to calm himself.

By being at the right place at the right time and having the courage to act appropriately, this man has saved more lives then some doctors would in an entire career. The man he killed was dangerous and only wanted to kill. No doubt he would have kept doing it until either caught or killed. His run ended early thanks to Mr. McDaniels.

To Wraith... "ok to just kill people" That is not what Jason McDaniel did. That is however what Gary Amaya did. Let me guess here... you are a liberal democrat right? We should all be allowed to conceal and carry. I am sure you would have watched as Gary Amaya killed you and the people in the tanning salon. There is no cure for stupid.

@Wraith-He didn't just walk into the establishment and intend to kill someone that day. Those were the intentions of Gary Amaya. Please don't sit there and try to take away from this man's heroic actions. I promise you, if it had been your daughter, wife, mother, in that tanning salon, you'd be singing his praise as well.

Good this man got him! Just shows how the police are never there.
Who rely's on the police anyway?
The nice thing about living in the country is that, you are your own police, when self defense is necessary.
That's why you pick a place to live where guns are allowed for self defense.

Mr. McDaniels is a hero, no doubt. The only problem I have is that if he had carried his own gun, this same government would be charging him with Felony Unlawful Use of a Weapon, just for the fact that he had been carrying it.
The hypocrisy in this state is just amazing.

All 50 aldermen on the Chicago City Council had to file paperwork earlier this year detailing their outside income and gifts. The Tribune took that ethics paperwork and posted the information here for you to see. You can search by ward number or alderman's last name.

The Cook County Assessor's office has put together lists of projected median property tax bills for all suburban towns and city neighborhoods. We've posted them for you to get a look at who's paying more and who's paying less.

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